A federal government shutdown, which was expected to start at 12 a.m., Oct. 1., was averted late Saturday when Congress passed a stopgap bill. President Biden signed the legislation within hours before the midnight deadline. The stopgap measure will keep the federal government funded and operating through Nov. 15. In the weeks leading up to the potential government shutdown, NCBFAA took no chances and immediately took action to engage Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) on what we needed to do to keep legitimate trade moving through our nation’s ports of entry in the event of…

This Sept. 25 article has been republished in its entirety for NCBFAA association members with permission from law firm Venable International Trade and Logistics Group which serves as NCBFAA Transportation Counsel.   By Lindsay B. Meyer, Ashley W. Craig, Elizabeth K. Lowe, Wes S. Sudduth, Neha Dhindsa, Ashley T. Luong, Elizabeth K. Philipp, and Richard DiNucci   As members of Congress continue to negotiate government spending levels allotted for the next fiscal year, the United States is poised for its fourth partial government shutdown in the last decade—putting at risk the regular operations of U.S. agencies responsible for trade activities.…

Silver Spring, MD, Sept. 22, 2023 – Taking no chances with what appears to be a likely federal government shutdown starting Oct. 1, National Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association of America (NCBFAA) is leading an effort among 40 other trade associations to develop a comprehensive strategy with Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and other Partner Government Agencies (PGAs) to ensure that legitimate trade is permitted to efficiently enter and exit our nation’s ports during a shutdown.  Specifically, the trade community requests:   Private sector access to the CBP “War Room.” PGA Presence in the CBP “War Room.” CBP HQ, Ports,…